Stacy Gee, Irwin Mitchell

Stacy Gee is a trainee solicitor with Irwin Mitchell, where she is on a training contract seat in the catastrophic injury department. She graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in law in 2006.

The job of a trainee solicitor

I am currently working within the catastrophic injury team and will qualify as a solicitor in September 2009. My role involves daily client contact providing advice in relation to the progress of their legal claim and practical assistance such as instructing a case manager. I draft detailed instructions to experts in order to obtain the most accurate, helpful evidence possible. I am out of the office regularly to visit clients or take a statement from a witness.

Working as a lawyer in the regions

I travel to work by tram; it gives me the chance to relax rather than sit in traffic. I am usually in the office by 8.00 am and leave around 6.00 pm. Occasionally, I take part in business development initiatives on evenings or weekends.

A training contract outside London

The benefit of working at a national law firm with a regional office is that I am able to be based close to home while working on high-quality, high-value cases. I have never been attracted to London, yet wanted a training contract with a large, full-service solicitors' firm to give me the best chance of having the opportunities to obtain well rounded training. The salary for trainees and qualified lawyers is lower than in London; however, this takes into account the lower cost of living outside London. I definitely see my future here. In five years’ time, I would like to be working towards an associate position here with my firm in the Sheffield office, with a caseload of happy clients!